“Wheelie Amazing Race” ParaQuad’s “Wheels for a day”

On Monday 7th November 0730 – 1030 am. Central Station, Sydney ParaQuad, in partnership with SpineCare as a division of Northcott, hosted the informative and invigorating "Wheels for a day" community event to launce Spinal Cord Injury Awareness 2011. The specific aims of this event are to provide members of the community with a unique insight into the everyday challenges faced by people who use wheelchairs.

The morning commenced by an official opening of SCIAW Minister for Disability Services, Andrew Constance at the Central Station concourse. There was an incredible buzz with 14 registered teams ready to embark on the mystery challenges specifically designed to highlight accessibility challenges in the community. Each team consisted of 4 people, two wheelchair users and two support people (with the option to swapping half way through the morning activities). Most were corporate teams (Sydney Ferries, Allergan), many of whom had no prior experience of using a wheelchair. Others were regular wheelchair users and proved to be an important resource for teaching unskilled users the best propulsion and transfer techniques. The SpineCare Coordinator, Isabel Chapman and Northcott OT, Erin Krisenthal (PSOS) supported teams in wheelchair selection, safety and basic skills to get teams through the morning.  

A special paediatric team “Pink Victoria’s” was enrolled to represent The SpineCare Foundation, Northcott Disability Services and all children, young people and their families affected by spinal cord injury.

Challenges included locating and using an accessible bathroom, purchasing train tickets to ride the city-circle, making a 3D puzzle bus (on the train) and completing quizzes about accessibility. The morning was tremendously entertaining and enlightening for participants and most informative for the general community on their morning commute.

The Hon. Bob Carr closed the morning activities to the jazzy sounds of the NSW Police Band. The “Pink Victoria’s” team was awarded a special prize and medal for the important work in raising awareness of paediatric spinal cord injury. Bob Carr reflected on the 2003 NSW Premier’s Forum on Spinal Cord Injury and Conditions “Making Connections”, subsequent symposia and the importance of building knowledge and awareness of spinal cord injury in the community.